Articulated vehicle having an adjustable grader blade thereon

ABSTRACT

A vehicle having wheel-supported forward and rear frame sections which are pivotally interconnected for swinging relative to each other about an upright axis. The wheels supporting the forward frame section are steerable relative to the forward frame section, and power-operated means is provided for swinging the forward frame section relative to the rear frame section. The vehicle may be steered either by steering the front wheels, swinging the forward frame section, or by doing both. A grader blade is mounted on and follows the movement of the rear frame section. A loader boom and bucket are mounted on the forward frame section and follow the movement of the forward frame section. The grader blade extends transversely of the vehicle, and is extensible. The grader blade includes elongated blade sections connected by pivot means permitting swinging of the sections relative to each other about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle. This pivoted construction allows the blade to produce either a crown or a valley contour in the material it works.

United States Patent Layton [54] ARTICULATED VEHICLE HAVING ANADJUSTABLE GRADER BLADE THEREON [72] Inventor: Jack D. Layton, Salem,Oreg.

[73] Assignee: Layton Manufacturing Company,

- Salem, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 12,767

[52] US. Cl. ..172/782, 172/786, 37/117.5, 172/667, 180/792, 214/140{51] Int. Cl. ..E02f 3/12, E02f 3/76 [58] Field of Search ..172/796,780, 781, 791, 802, 172/782, 667, 786, 797; 37/1 17.5; ISO/79.2

[151 3,704,754 451 Dec. 5, 1972 2,883,776 4/l959 Orscheln ..l72/800XPrimary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C.Pellegrino AttorneyKolisch Hartwell 57 ABSTRACT A vehicle havingwheel-supported forward and rear frame sections which are pivotallyinterconnected for swinging relative to each other about an uprightaxis. The wheels supporting the forward frame section are steerablerelative to the forward frame section, and power-operated means isprovided for swinging the forward frame section relative to the rearframe section. The vehicle may be steered either by steering the frontwheels, swinging the forward frame section, or by doing both. A graderblade is mounted on and follows the movement of the rear frame section.A loader boom and bucket are mounted on the forward frame section andfollow the movement of the forward frame section. The grader bladeextends transversely of the vehicle, and is extensible. The grader bladeincludes elongated blade sections connected by pivot means permittingswinging 0f the sections relative to each other about an axis extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle. This pivoted construction allows theblade to produce either a crown or a valley contour in the material itworks.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ARTICULATED VEHICLE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLEGRADER BLADE THEREON Thisinvention relates to a vehicle, and morespecifically to an earth-working vehicle.

A general object is to provide a novel vehicle of this descriptionhaving an articulated frame and mounting a grader blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle which haswheel-supported forward and rear frame sections pivotally interconnectedfor swinging relative to each other, steerable front wheels on theforward frame section, and a grader blade mounted on and extendingtransversely of the rear frame section which follows the movement of therear frame section. Such a vehicle provides a highly maneuverable andefficient grader. The forward frame section of the vehicle may be swungto place its forward extremity and the front wheels to either side ofthe longitudinal axis of the vehicle and thus to either side of the pathof the blade.

Another object is to provide an earth-working vehi--.

cle with'an articulated frame that includes a raisable boom and loaderbucket combination on its forward frame section, with the combinationextending forwardly along and following the movement of the forwardframe section. The bucket thus swings with the forward frame-section andmay be maneuvered directly into material to be loaded.

Yet anotherobject is to provide an earth-working vehicle including anelongated grader blade which extends transversely of the vehicle and isextensible laterallyof the vehicle, permitting varying of the width ofthe path graded.

Still another object is to provide an earth working vehicle whichincludes an elongated grader blade which is sectionalized. The sectionsare pivotally interconnected intermediate the ends of the blade,permitting swinging of the sections relative to each other about an axisextending longitudinally of the vehicle.

I This adjustability of the blade sections permits the blade to produceeither a crown or a valley in the material worked by the vehicle.

A further object is to provide an-earth-working vehicle having a graderblade mounted between the front and rear wheels, and a loader bucketwhich may be lowered to a working position directly in front of thefront wheels, the front wheels being mounted for adjustable movementforwardly and rearwardly on the vehicle frame. With the wheels movedforwardly, greater working clearance'is provided between them and thegrader blade, for improved grader operation. With the wheels movedrearwardly, clearance is provided between them and the loader bucket.

These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparentas the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a vehicle constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention, with portions broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showingthe front of the vehicle; I v

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, showingthe back of a grader blade therein;

FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along the line 44 in FIG. 1, with aportion broken away, and showing an end of such grader blade;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top simplified view of the vehicle, reduced in scale; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to FIG. 6, but show the vehicle in differentoperating conditions.

Referring now to the drawings, and first more specifically to FIG. 1, at10 is indicated generally a vehicle constructed according to theinvention. The vehicle has an articulated vehicle frame 12, including aforward frame section 14 and a rear frame section 16. These framesections are pivotally interconnected by a pairof vertical, axiallyaligned king pins 18 which accommodate relative swinging movementbetween the frame sections about an upright axis.

The rear frame section is supported for travel over the ground by a pairof power-driven rear wheels, also referred to herein as rear groundsupport means, such as the one indicated at 22. The forward framesection is supported for travel over the ground by a pair of steerablefront wheels, also referred to herein as front ground support means,such as those indicated at 24 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The front wheels are connected to the forward frame section by mountingmeans indicated generally at 28'. The mounting means includes anaxletree 32. Wheels 24 are mounted at opposite ends of the axletree onconventional spindles and pivots, whereby each may rotate freelyabout ahorizontal axis,'and each is steerable through pivoting about asubstantially upright pivot axis. 4

The axletree is mounted at substantially its midpoint to the undersideof the forward frame section 14. Describing in more detail thismounting, joined to the axletree and extending horizontally andrearwardly therefrom is a plate 33. A lug 33a joined to a forward partof the plate and projecting upwardly therefrom is pivotally connected at34 (see FIG. 2) to the underside of an elongated horizontal platemember36. A similar upright post 33b joined to the rear extremity ofplate 33 (see FIG. 1) is joined to the underside of plate member 36 by apivot connection 35.

Plate member 36 is telescopically received in the forward frame section.Thus, opposed longitudinal margins of the plate member are slidablysupported in frame section 14 on their upper sides by a pair of parallelupper tracks 38, shown in dashed outline in FIGS. 1 and 2. On theirlower sides, the longitudinal margins are slidably supported by a pairof lower tracks 40. Tracks 38, 40 extend horizontally, and substantiallyparallel the longitudinal axis of forward frame section 14.

A ram 44, seen in dashed outline in FIG. I, mounted within the forwardframe section is connectedat its rear, or cylinder, end to the forwardframe section, and at its forward, or rod, end to plate member 36.Extension and contraction of ram 44 moves plate member 36, and thuswheels 24, to various adjusted positions relative to the forward framesection. Full extension of the ram places the wheels forwardly of theforward frame section, in the position illustrated in solid outline inFIG. 1. Full contraction of the ram moves the front wheels to theposition shown generally in dashed outline in FIG. 1. The purpose andadvantages of this telescopic mounting for the forward wheels will beexplained later.

i numn m r 7 space.

3 A ram 48, extending substantially parallel to axletree 32, isconnected at its cylinder end, and through an ear -49'(see FIG. 2) toplate 33. The rod end of the ram is Connected to a steering arm 50,perhaps best illustrated inFlG. 1, which is joined to one of the wheels24 in such a manner that it steers the wheel. The other wheel moveswiththe wheel steered by arm 50 through interconnecting the'two wheels witha tie bar 52. With the construction described, extension and contractionof ram 48 serves to steer the front wheels relative to the forward framesection.

The vehicle also may be steered by swinging the forsection, andaclearance space between the forward and rear wheels is provided betweenthe forward frame section'and the ground'adjacent where the two framesections are joined. An elongated grader blade, indicated generallyat60, is dependently supported on therear frame section. The grader bladeextends transversely of the vehicle, and occupies this clearanceReferring now to FIG. 3, the grader blade includes a pair ofelongatedblade section 64, 66. Each blade section has a transversecurvature, as illustrated for section 64 in FIG. 1. Sections 64, 66 aresubstantially aligned with one another and havea set of ends 64a, 66adisposed closely adjacent each other. As is seen in FIG. 3, ends 64a,66a in outline have a blunt taper, so that edge portions defining theends diverge on progressing upwardly from the horizontal center line forthe blade and on progressing downwardly from such horizontal centerline. A triangular plate 70 is welded along one of its edges 70a to theface of blade section 66, and this plate overlies a portion of the faceof blade section 64, as is best seen in FIG. 4. A similar triangularplate 72 is welded along one of its edges 72a to plate 64, and thisplate overlies a portion of blade 66. Plates 70, 72 cover the spaceexisting between the adjacent,

blunt tapered ends of the blade sections.

Blade section 64 is secured, as by welding, along its back side, to anelongated hollow box beam 78. Such beam extends longitudinally of theblade section and adjacent its horizontal center line. Another elongatedhollow box beam 80 is secured in a similar manner to blade section 66,(see FIGS. 1 and 3.) Adjacent ends of beams 78, 80 are pivotallyconnected by a pin 82 which provides a pivot axis about which bladesections 64, 66 may be swung relative to each other, such axis extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle. The blunt tapered ends 64a, 66a of theblade sections provide clearance to permit such swinging.

A double acting, fluid-operated ram 84 disposed above beams 78, 80 ispivotally connected at 84a, through its cylinder, to beam 80. The rodend of the ram is connected at 84b to beam 78. Extension of the ramproduces swinging of blade sections 64, 66 from the position shown insolid outline, downwardly about pivot pin 82, to place the bladesections in the position shown in'dot-dashed outline at 64A, 66A.Contraction of the ram swings the blade sections upwardly to place themin I the positions shown at 64B, 668. During periods of non-actuation,ram 84 functions as a means holding the blade sections in a givenposition of adjustment.

The grader blade also includes a pair of extensible blade portions 90,92. The extensible portions are similar in construction and mounting,and thus only the one indicated at 90 will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, extensible portion 90 is so I curbed as to fit withits backside snugly against the face I portion 90 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 4,and 5).As is best seen in FIG. 5, extensible portion 90 and beam 98 arejoined adjacent their outer extremities through a spacer block 100 whichis secured, as by welding to each. Extensible portion 90 and beam 98also are joined by a vertical end plate 104 which extends forwardlytherefrom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Each extensible portion thus is mounted for telescopic movementlongitudinally of its associated blade section. In FIG. 3, both of theextensible portions 90, 92 are shown in their extended positions. Asexplained with reference to extensible portion 90, to place theextensible portion in a contracted position such is moved inwardly withsliding over the front face of its associated'blade section until theend plate of the extensible portion, plate 104, comes into contact withthe end edge of the associated blade section, shown in the case of bladesection 64 at 640 in FIG. 3. Such a contracted position is illustratedfor extensible portion 90 in dotdash outline at 90A in FIG. 4.

Movement of each extensible blade portion relative to' its associatedblade section is produced by actuation of an elongatedram, such as thatindicated generally at in FIG. 3 for extensible portion 90. Consideringfurther ram 110, such is mounted within beams 78, 98. Itis connected atits cylinder end to beam 78 adjacent pivot 82, and is connected at itsrod end adjacent to the outer. extremity of beam 98. Extension of theram moves extensible portion 90 outwardly on associated main bladesection 64, and retraction of the ram moves the extensible portioninwardly.

A pair of upright fluid-operated rams, also referred to herein asadjustable linkage means, such as the one indicated at 114 in FIG. 1,(the other being obscured and on the opposite side of the vehicle) arepivotally connected to their upper ends to opposite sides of the rearframe section in the vehicle. At their lower set of ends, the rams arepivotally connected, one to, each blade section, through connections 113with spaced ends of beams 78, 80, as is best seen in FIG. 3. Selectiveactuation of rams 114 controls the vertical positioning of blade 60relative to the vehicle frame. 7

A pair of thrust bars are provided, with one projecting rearwardly fromeach blade section in the grader blade. Such are shown at 116 and 117 inFIG. 3. As demonstrated by bar 116, best seen in FIG. 1, theforconnection 118 to the beam which extends along the backside of ablade section. The opposite, or rear, end

of the thrust bar is anchored through a suitable pivot connection (notshown) to the rear frame section of the vehicle, the pivot connectionaccommodating up and down swinging movement of the thrust bar. Alsoforming part of the mounting for the blade is a stabilizing bar 120which is connected at its forward end through a pivot connection 122 tothe grader blade adjacent the center of the blade. The rear end of thestabilizing bar is pivotally anchored to the rear frame section of thevehicle by a pivot connection (not shown). The function of thestabilizing bar is to maintain the face of the grader blade upright asshown in FIG. 1.

Referring still to FIG. 1, mounted on forward frame section 14 is loadermechanism, indicated generally at 130. The loader mechanism includes anelongated boom 132 which is pivotally connected to the frame at 134adjacent its right end in the figure'for vertical swinging relative tothe frame. A ram 136 is pivotally connected at 138 at its cylinder endsto forward frame section 14 and is pivotally connected at its rod end at140 to boom 132. With ram 136 contracted, the boom is in a loweredposition (not shown) in which it extends forwardly and downwardly alongthe forward frame section. Extension of ram 136 swings the boom upwardlyabout its pivot connection 134 to place the boom in a raised position.The boom is illustrated in a somewhat raised position in FIG. 1.

A loader bucket 144 is pivotally connected at 146 to the forward end ofboom 132. Pivotal connection 146 provides a substantially horizontal tipaxis about which the bucket may be tipped to place it in differentattitudes.

A linkage system, indicated generally at 150, is provided for changingthe attitude of the bucket. The system includes a link 152, partlyformed of a ram 154, which is pivotally connected at 156 to forwardframe section 14. An elongated arm 160 in the linkage system ispivotally connected adjacent its midpoint at 162 to boom 132intermediate its ends. The upper end of arm 162 in FIG. 1, is pivotallyjoined to the rod end of ram 154 by a pin 164. Another elongated arm 170is pivotally connected at one of its ends at 172 to the lower end of arm160. The opposite end of arm 170 is pivotally joined to bucket 144 at174 in a region spaced from pivot connection 146.

The linkage system is so constructed that upon actuation of ram 154bucket 144 is caused to swing about pivot axis 146. Extension of ram 154produces clockwise tipping of the bucket in FIG. 1 and contractionproduces counterclockwise tipping. The boom and bucket are so mounted'onthe forward frame section that when the boom is in its lowered position,the

bucket is held directly in front of front wheels 24.

Explaining now the operation of the vehicle for grading, loadermechanism 130 is placed in a somewhat raised position as illustrated inFIG. 1, mounting means 28 for the front wheels 24 isextended to placethe front wheels as far forwardly of the grader blade as possible, andthe grader blade is placed in a desired grading position. The verticalposition of the grader blade is set by selective actuation of rams 114.The position of the blade sections relative to each other is set byselective actuation of ram 84. The grader blade may be positioned withsections 64, 66 axially aligned as shown in solid outline in FIG. 3;swung upwardly about pivot connection 82 to the positions indicated at64B, 668; or swung downwardly about such pivot connection to thepositions illustrated at 64A, 66A. With the blade sections in thepositions shown in solid outline in FIG. 3, the grader blade willproduce a flat surface on material worked by the grader. With the outerends of the blade sections swung upwardly, a valley contour is producedin the material worked, and with the outer ends of the blade sectionsswung downwardly, a crown contour is produced.

The rams associated with extensible portions 90, 92 of the grader bladealso may be actuated selectively to position the extensible portions toproduce a desired grading width for the grader blade.

As the vehicle is driven forwardly by rear wheels 22, the grader bladewill grade material which projects above its lower margin to theconfiguration formed by the lower margin of the grader blade. End plates104 on the grader blade confine material struck from the surface workedwithin the bounds of the outer extremities of the grader blade so thatthe grader blade will carry a quantity of material forwardlyto fill inlow spots.

Since a quantity of material is carried by the grader blade, such willform a moving mound in front of the blade. With front wheels 24 extendedas far forwardly as possible from the grader blade, they are able to runon original material surface in front of the mound rather than on theforward slope of the mound moved by the grader blade.

During the grading operation the vehicle is steered either by steeringfront wheels 24 relative to the forward frame section, by swinging thefront frame section relative to the rear frame section, or by acombination of these two methods. During any such steering operation,blade 60 follows the movement of the rear frame section 16 and wheels22.

With forward frame section 14 being swingable to either side of thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle by selective actuation of rams 56, theforward frame section, wheels 24, and bucket 144 may be swung to oneside of, and out of the way of, the path of one end of grader blade 60,as illustrated in FIG. 7. With the forward frame section swung to theside, wheels 24 may be steered so that the vehicle will travel in astraight path along the longitudinal axis of rear frame section 16, asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 7. The path directly in front of one endof the grader blade is left free. This permits the grader to work indifficult, or tight, spaces which could not be worked if the forwardframe section were fixed in a position extending straight forwardly fromthe rear frame section as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Explaining now the operation of the vehicle as a front end loader, frontwheels 24 are retracted as far as possible toward grader blade 60 andthe grader blade is raised by actuation of rams 114. With front wheels24 retracted, loader boom 132 is lowered with ample clearance beingprovided between the backside of ,bucket 144 and the front wheels. Withthe bucket lowered directly in front of the front wheels, ram 154 isactuated to place the bucket in a digging attitude in holding attitudefacing upwardly, and the boom and bucket are raised. The bucket then isdumped by retracting ram 154 to swing the bucket in a counterclockwisedirection to a dumping attitude wherein it opens facing downwardly.

The vehicle may be steered during loader operation in any of the threemethods previously described. However, it is generally desirable to havethe forward, or leading, edge 144a of bucket 144 moved directly into apile of loose material. During loader operation, therefore, wheels 24generally are maintained in a position paralleling the longitudinal axisof forward frame section 14 and the vehicle is steered by selectiveactuation of rams 56, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this way, the

. bucket is moved in a direction normal to its leading edge directlyinto a pile of material, rather than at an angle as would be the case asillustrated in FIG. 7,

i where the front wheels are positioned at an angle to the forward framesection.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein,it should be obvious to those skilledin the art that variations andmodifications are possible without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by letters patent: 1. A vehiclecomprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rearframe section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connectingsaid frame sections accommodating relative swinging movementtherebetween about an upright axis;

means connected to said forward frame section for producing suchrelative swinging between the frame sections;

power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting therear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front groundsupport means; means mounting said front ground support means on saidforward frame section for movement relative to said forward framesection longitudinally thereof to permit positioning of said frontground support means in different adjusted positions;

means for holding said front ground support means in a given adjustedposition;

an elongated grader blade; and

means supporting said blade on said rear frame section for travel withsaid rear frame section.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, which further comprises a boom pivotallyconnected to and extending forwardly in the vehicle along said forwardframe section for raising and lowering about a substantially horizontalpivot axis, and a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of theboom for raising and lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered positionholding the bucket directly in front of the front ground support means.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises anelongated member to which said front ground support means is joined, andreceiving means telescopically receiving said member joined to saidforward frame section, said member being movable in said receiving meansalong a path substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of theforward frame section.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for holding said frontground support means comprises a fluid-operated ram actuatable to movethe support means under power.

5. A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said framecomprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and meanspivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swingingmovement therebetween about an upright axis,

means connected to said forward frame section for producing suchrelative swinging between the frame sections;

power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting therear frame section for travel over the ground;

steerable front ground support means mounted on and supporting theforwardv frame section for travel over the ground; an elongated graderblade, and means supporting said grader blade on said rear frame sectionfor travel therewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongatedblade sections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear framesection and pivot means interconnecting said blade sectionsaccommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each otherabout a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said meanssupporting said grader blade comprising adjustable linkage meansaccommodating selective positioning of said grader blade relative tosaid rear frame section. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein saidadjustable linkage means comprises a pair of fluid-operated rams,

one for each blade section, each being mounted at one of its ends on ablade section and at the other of its ends on said rear frame section, apair of thrust bars, one being connected .to an projecting rearwardlyfrom each blade section and having rear extremities mounted on said rearframe section, and a stabilizing bar interposed between said graderblade and rear frame section.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said grader blade is extensible andfurther comprises an extensible blade portion mounted adjacent and endof one of said blade sections for telescopic movement longitudinally ofsaid blade section and outwardly beyond said end of the blade section.

8. A vehicle comprising a rear frame section,

power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting therear frame section for travel over the ground;

a forward frame section connected to said rear frame section andextending forwardly and downwardly from its connection with said rearframe section, a clearance space being provided between said forwardframe section and the ground adjacent where the forward frame section isconnected to said rear frame section,

front ground support means;

means mounting said front ground support means on said forward framesection for movement relative to said forward frame section andlongitudinally thereof to permit positioning of said front groundsupport means in different adjusted positions, means for holding saidfront ground support means in a given adjusted position;

a grader blade mounted on the vehicle and disposed under said frontframe section in said clearance space;

an elongated boom pivotally connected to and extending forwardly in thevehicle along said forward frame section for raising and lowering abouta substantially horizontal pivot axis, and

a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boom for raisingand lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered position extendingforwardly and downwardly along the forward frame section to hold thebucket directly in front of said front ground support means.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, which further comprises pivot meansconnecting said forward and rear frame sections providing an uprightpivot axis about which the frame sections may be swung relative to eachother, and means for producing such relative swinging therebetween. 1

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said front ground support meanscomprises a steerable ground-engaging means.

11. In a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supportingthe grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transverselyof the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated bladesections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other andpivot means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one setof ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about anaxis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a fluidpowered ram havingone end connected to one and its other end connected to the other ofsaid blade sections for swinging them about said axis to variouspositions relative to each other, for holding said blade sections in anyone of said positions, said grader blade further comprising anextensible blade portion mounted on an end of at least one of said bladesections for telescopic movement longitudinally of said blade sectionoutwardly beyond said end of the blade section, and a motor meansconnected to the extensible blade portion and connected to said one ofsaid blade sections, said motor means being actuable to produce suchtelescopic movement.

12. A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said framecomprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and meanspivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swingingmovement therebetween about an upright axis; means connected to saidforward frame section fo producing such relative swinging between theframe sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on andsupporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerablefront ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward framesection for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and meanssupporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for traveltherewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated bladesections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear framesection, pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodatingswinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivotaxis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and power-operated meansconnected to the blade sections for swinging the blade sections aboutsaid pivot axis to various positions relative to each other.

13. In a vehicle, a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and meanssupporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extendingtransversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair ofelongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closelyadjacent each other and pivot means connecting said blade sectionsadjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging ofsaid blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of thevehicle, said means supporting said grader blade comprising a pair offluid-operated rams, one for each blade section, each ram being mountedat one of its ends on a blade section and having the other of its endsmounted on said vehicle frame, a pair of thrust bars, one bar beingconnected to and projecting rearwardly from each blade section and saidbars having rear extremities pivotally mounted on said vehicle frame,and a stabilizing bar having one end pivotally connected to the graderblade and an opposite end pivotally connected to the vehicle frame.

1. A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said framecomprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and meanspivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swingingmovement therebetween about an upright axis; means connected to saidforward frame section for producing such relative swinging between thefRame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on andsupporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerablefront ground support means; means mounting said front ground supportmeans on said forward frame section for movement relative to saidforward frame section longitudinally thereof to permit positioning ofsaid front ground support means in different adjusted positions; meansfor holding said front ground support means in a given adjustedposition; an elongated grader blade; and means supporting said blade onsaid rear frame section for travel with said rear frame section.
 2. Thevehicle of claim 1, which further comprises a boom pivotally connectedto and extending forwardly in the vehicle along said forward framesection for raising and lowering about a substantially horizontal pivotaxis, and a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boomfor raising and lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered positionholding the bucket directly in front of the front ground support means.3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises anelongated member to which said front ground support means is joined, andreceiving means telescopically receiving said member joined to saidforward frame section, said member being movable in said receiving meansalong a path substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of theforward frame section.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means forholding said front ground support means comprises a fluid-operated ramactuatable to move the support means under power.
 5. A vehiclecomprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rearframe section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connectingsaid frame sections accommodating relative swinging movementtherebetween about an upright axis, means connected to said forwardframe section for producing such relative swinging between the framesections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on andsupporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerablefront ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward framesection for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and meanssupporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for traveltherewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated bladesections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear framesection and pivot means interconnecting said blade sectionsaccommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each otherabout a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said meanssupporting said grader blade comprising adjustable linkage meansaccommodating selective positioning of said grader blade relative tosaid rear frame section.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein saidadjustable linkage means comprises a pair of fluid-operated rams, onefor each blade section, each being mounted at one of its ends on a bladesection and at the other of its ends on said rear frame section, a pairof thrust bars, one being connected to an projecting rearwardly fromeach blade section and having rear extremities mounted on said rearframe section, and a stabilizing bar interposed between said graderblade and rear frame section.
 7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein saidgrader blade is extensible and further comprises an extensible bladeportion mounted adjacent and end of one of said blade sections fortelescopic movement longitudinally of said blade section and outwardlybeyond said end of the blade section.
 8. A vehicle comprising a rearframe section, power-driven rear ground support means mounted on andsupporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; a forwardframe section connected to said rear frame section and extendingforwardly and downwardly from its connection with said rear framesection, a clearance space being provided between said forward framesection and the ground adjacent where tHe forward frame section isconnected to said rear frame section, front ground support means; meansmounting said front ground support means on said forward frame sectionfor movement relative to said forward frame section and longitudinallythereof to permit positioning of said front ground support means indifferent adjusted positions, means for holding said front groundsupport means in a given adjusted position; a grader blade mounted onthe vehicle and disposed under said front frame section in saidclearance space; an elongated boom pivotally connected to and extendingforwardly in the vehicle along said forward frame section for raisingand lowering about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, and a loaderbucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boom for raising andlowering therewith, said boom in a lowered position extending forwardlyand downwardly along the forward frame section to hold the bucketdirectly in front of said front ground support means.
 9. The vehicle ofclaim 8, which further comprises pivot means connecting said forward andrear frame sections providing an upright pivot axis about which theframe sections may be swung relative to each other, and means forproducing such relative swinging therebetween.
 10. The vehicle of claim9, wherein said front ground support means comprises a steerableground-engaging means.
 11. In a vehicle frame, an elongated grader bladeand means supporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with suchextending transversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising apair of elongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closelyadjacent each other and pivot means connecting said blade sectionsadjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging ofsaid blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of thevehicle, a fluid-powered ram having one end connected to one and itsother end connected to the other of said blade sections for swingingthem about said axis to various positions relative to each other, forholding said blade sections in any one of said positions, said graderblade further comprising an extensible blade portion mounted on an endof at least one of said blade sections for telescopic movementlongitudinally of said blade section outwardly beyond said end of theblade section, and a motor means connected to the extensible bladeportion and connected to said one of said blade sections, said motormeans being actuable to produce such telescopic movement.
 12. A vehiclecomprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rearframe section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connectingsaid frame sections accommodating relative swinging movementtherebetween about an upright axis; means connected to said forwardframe section for producing such relative swinging between the framesections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on andsupporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerablefront ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward framesection for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and meanssupporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for traveltherewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated bladesections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear framesection, pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodatingswinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivotaxis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and power-operated meansconnected to the blade sections for swinging the blade sections aboutsaid pivot axis to various positions relative to each other.
 13. In avehicle, a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supportingthe grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transverselyof the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated bladesections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other andpivot Means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one setof ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about anaxis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said means supporting saidgrader blade comprising a pair of fluid-operated rams, one for eachblade section, each ram being mounted at one of its ends on a bladesection and having the other of its ends mounted on said vehicle frame,a pair of thrust bars, one bar being connected to and projectingrearwardly from each blade section and said bars having rear extremitiespivotally mounted on said vehicle frame, and a stabilizing bar havingone end pivotally connected to the grader blade and an opposite endpivotally connected to the vehicle frame.